Senator Savino Secures Funds to Send Local Youth Football Champs to National Championships

Senator Savino Secures Funds to Send Local Youth Football Champs to National Championships

Community joins in effort to support the Staten Island Hurricanes

(Staten Island) – Senator Diane J. Savino (D-North Shore/Brooklyn) will announce a successful campaign to send local champions, the Staten Island Hurricanes, an all-volunteer youth football organization with four different weight divisions, who qualified for the National Championship Games in Orlando, Fl, from December 5th to the 12th. The team, part of the American Youth Football League has strict standards for its team members, requiring the kids to be in good academic standing and to volunteer in their community. The coaches act as mentors to the players, providing tutoring and assistance with homework, as well as teaching teaching self-respect, responsibility, and civic engagement.

The team, made up of over one hundred kids, mostly from lower and modest incomes, were unable to pay for the cost of the trip—approximately $400 per child—over $10,000 for the entire team. Senator Savino began a joint community fundraising effort, raising $10,700, thus allowing the team to participate in the games.